DEREK MANCINI
Today's Winner...
50 Dime play on the Jaguars as the home dog over the Titans. Jacksonville is currentrly getting 3 points in this contest, go ahead an buy the 1/2 point insurance on Jacksonville at + 3 or even + 3 1/2.
Great spot for the Jaguars for a variety of reasons, but let's start with the most obvious - Jacksonville is a different team at home, as evidenced by their 31-28 upset of the Colts two weeks ago. They had a cupcake road game at Buffalo last week, and now come into this game riding high on a 2-game win streak. You couldn't ask for a better situation leading up to this game, the Jags have regained their swagger, and that includes the most important player when you handicap this match up - David Garrard.
A couple weeks ago, there was talk about him getting benched or replaced by the newly acquired Trent Edwards, but that's all in the rearview mirror. With 2 straight weeks of posting 122 QB rating or better, Garrard is back on top, and has raised his overall QB rating to over 90. This is significant, because we know the Jags can run with Jones-Drew... Where they become most potent, is when Garrard can take advantage of the defenses keying on stopping the run, like he has the L2 games.
Herein lies the biggest realization when handicapping this contest - the Titans defense just isn't as good as advertised. I know the public loves them, but the stats don't lie, and what the stats say is FADE the Titans stop unit on the road, where they're allowing 491 total yards per game, including 5.8 yards per carry! They got torched at the Giants and torched at the Cowboys, and If you're going to allow Jones-Drew to run wild, the Jaguars offense will make you pay dearly (especially the way Garrard is playing right now). Besides Jones-Drew, watch the Sims-Walker/Cortland Finnegan match up, as the Titans corner was abused by Miles Austin last week (9 catches, 166 yards, 1 TD), and faces a similar speedy WR tonight.
Finally, bettors are fading the Jaguars defense - and deservedly so - but before you go declaring that match up a mismatch, consider Tennessee's offensive issues. Chris Johnson looked great last week against Dallas, but overall this Titans offense is averaging just 292 yards of total offense/game (for comparison sake, the Jags average 310 yards per game this season). As much as they want to establish the run, they're going to need Young to connect on more than just 48% of his passes - like he did last week. I'll take Garrard at home over Young anyday, as the overrated Titans get exposed in this one. Jaguars plus the points (remember to buy the 1/2 point) over the Titans Monday night.